Editorial
Taking over child-abuse cases
Hillsborough County Sheriff Cal Henderson is on the verge of doing something only a few Florida sheriffs have dared: take over child-abuse investigations from the state. Such a monumental undertaking, estimated to cost more than $10-million annually, could pay off in better protection for at-risk children. But that all depends on how prepared Henderson is to assign manpower, priority and creativity to the task -- and how committed Florida lawmakers are to providing the resources so essential to success.

Editorial
Class size stakes
The high emotions over reducing class size will have to take a back seat to creating an open discussion if the goal is to help schoolchildren.

Letters
America still needs affirmative action
As a 61-year-old woman who gave up raising children for a career, I was saddened to read Robyn Blumner's personal choice in her Nov. 3 column, The competing philosophies over affirmative action -- but I certainly understand it. As a career-minded white woman, I too never wanted to get a job or a promotion due to affirmative action. And I don't know many minorities who want to rely on affirmative action either.

Bill Maxwell
The best and worst of hip-hop
LUBBOCK, Texas -- During her acceptance speech at the 1999 Grammys, rap artist Lauryn Hill said: "Yo, this is hip-hop, y'all."

Philip Gailey
What voters can expect after Tuesday's elections
From Tallahassee to Washington, for better or worse, the Republicans have a lock on the executive and legislative branches of government. That means they can advance their conservative agenda, but it also means they will be held accountable for their excesses. They should proceed with caution. They have been given an opportunity to show that they can address the nation's problems -- not an ideological mandate. The fact is that Congress remains closely divided, and it's going to require compromise by Republicans and Democrats to push boulders up Capitol Hill.

Robyn E. Blumner
The United States is starting to look more like Bush's kingdom
In 17th century France the king could arbitrarily order someone's imprisonment in the Bastille by issuing a lettre de cachet. The executive authorization didn't have to designate a term of imprisonment and there was no appeal. Release was at the king's pleasure.

Martin Dyckman
Florida's two political parties: House and Senate
TALLAHASSEE -- The election raised at least as many questions as it answered. To begin with the most obvious, does Florida still have a flourishing two-party system?

The wrong legal approach to gain better health care
American law is undermining American health care. One out of 10 obstetricians say they are stopping the delivery of babies, unable to afford increases in malpractice insurance that, in South Florida, now averages more than $200,000 per year.